Tim Kaine on Health Care

Democratic Governor (VA)

Bush fights states getting cheap Rx for seniors

Many states, following the lead of Illinois, have set up simple ways to help seniors purchase safe, American-made prescription drugs from other countries at a fraction of the price they would pay here. The administration actually fought against that
Democratic effort. In Virginia, we’ve worked to provide health insurance coverage for nearly 140,000 more children. Republicans & Democrats alike have come together to fight the administration’s efforts to slash Medicaid & push more costs onto the states

Our seniors were promised medications but got poor planning

Skyrocketing health care costs are hurting small businesses and pushing millions of working Americans into the ranks of the uninsured. The White House has made efforts to cut Medicaid funds for our most vulnerable citizens. Our seniors were promised that
the new federal Medicare drug plan would make it easier and cheaper to obtain their medication. Instead, many have fallen victim to the program’s poor planning. They find getting their medicine to be more complex, more expensive and less reliable.

One out of 7 Virginians lack health insurance

In Virginia, one out of every seven people lacks health insurance. You probably talked to an uninsured person today.
It may have been the person who handed you your clothes at the dry cleaners, or the server who brought you lunch, or the technician who changed the oil in your car.

Source: Campaign website www.kaine2005.org, “Issues”
, Nov 8, 2005

Adopt national health reform legislation before the end of the year.

Kaine signed a letter from 22 Governors to Congressional leaders:

In a letter to congressional leadership, 22 governors are urging federal lawmakers to adopt national health reform legislation before the end of the year to provide families and businesses with much-needed security and stability.

"We commend you and your colleagues for provisions included in your bills that will help states," the governors wrote. "Many of the provisions will allow states to achieve long term savings and help cover those who currently go without health coverage. We recognize that health reform is a shared responsibility and everyone, including state governments, needs to partner to reform our broken health care system."

"Efforts at the federal level, like the recent and critical investments that support states' HIV and prevention initiatives, are beginning the work to lower health care costs. Our citizens and our states, however, will only achieve the health care security and stability they need if we succeed in working together to achieve health care reform."